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rachelfreitas's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gellykordon's review against another edition
5.0
It perfectly encapsulates how special college friendships can be.
nobro58's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 ⭐️ / 5, rounding up to a 5!!
Ugh, I just absolutely love Steven Rowley. I was soooo excited to read this and it did not disappoint! I feel like Steven does such a good job creating characters and concepts. Truly have not read a book I didn't like by him.
I finished this book while I was at work today (whoops, but it was a slow day). And I was CRYING in the club. Sad moments, really happy moments between the five friends in which this story follows - Jordy, Naomi, Marielle, Jordan, and Craig. SUCH an interesting and amazing and sweet concept. I really did enjoy this story and following life through the characters. Do recommend!!
Ugh, I just absolutely love Steven Rowley. I was soooo excited to read this and it did not disappoint! I feel like Steven does such a good job creating characters and concepts. Truly have not read a book I didn't like by him.
I finished this book while I was at work today (whoops, but it was a slow day). And I was CRYING in the club. Sad moments, really happy moments between the five friends in which this story follows - Jordy, Naomi, Marielle, Jordan, and Craig. SUCH an interesting and amazing and sweet concept. I really did enjoy this story and following life through the characters. Do recommend!!
gabbihorvath's review against another edition
4.0
Ahhh I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always thought how terrible funerals are for everyone and having a funeral for the living is such a good idea, I LOVED the concept. Such a cute friend group too, I loved all the personalities but felt like some of them could’ve had a little more character development.
becki_bee's review against another edition
5.0
I read and enjoyed the delightful book "The Guncle", by Steven Rowley, and when I saw this book, "The Celebrants", by the same author, I grabbed it without a second thought! Though very different from "The Guncle", "The Celebrants" was also heartwarming and moving.
The backstory... In the 1990s, a group of six students at Berkley bonded as a friends group. They were shocked when one of their own died just 2 weeks before their graduation. After his death, they reminisced together and wondered if Alec had known how much they loved him, and when they realized the answer was no, they created a pact with each other that whenever any of the remaining five called on the group, the others would immediately gather for a "live" funeral, in which they would come together and celebrate and uplift the friend in crisis,
When the book begins, the celebrants have all reunited to support and celebrate Jordan, but he knows something that they don't know... His cancer has returned, and this is the last time the five of them will be together. From this point, the book jumps back and forth from the present moment- at Jordan's "funeral"- to earlier moments when the other friends reached out from their own crises. Despite the serious subject matter, "The Celebrants" still manages to end on a beautiful, hopeful note. A lovely read.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
#TheCelebrants
The backstory... In the 1990s, a group of six students at Berkley bonded as a friends group. They were shocked when one of their own died just 2 weeks before their graduation. After his death, they reminisced together and wondered if Alec had known how much they loved him, and when they realized the answer was no, they created a pact with each other that whenever any of the remaining five called on the group, the others would immediately gather for a "live" funeral, in which they would come together and celebrate and uplift the friend in crisis,
When the book begins, the celebrants have all reunited to support and celebrate Jordan, but he knows something that they don't know... His cancer has returned, and this is the last time the five of them will be together. From this point, the book jumps back and forth from the present moment- at Jordan's "funeral"- to earlier moments when the other friends reached out from their own crises. Despite the serious subject matter, "The Celebrants" still manages to end on a beautiful, hopeful note. A lovely read.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
#TheCelebrants
emkollin's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book- so beautiful and moving. An homage to life and loss. And the characters were all different in their own way which I loved ☺️
readingwhilemommying's review against another edition
4.0
One of my fave movies is The Big Chill & this book reminded me of that. What really struck me was how real the characters & their distinct personalities are. The Jordans, Craig, Naomi & Marielle are as loving yet snarky & temperamental as real people. Rowley does a wonderful job presenting a multi-character story with strong, vivid characterizations. Their personalities jump off the page.
The story is lovely, too. A group of college friends meet up over the years for a "living funeral," so that they can learn what they mean to the others while they're still alive. This is prompted by the death of one of their group just as they're done school. The references to 80s/90s references & the notion that people, even when so close at college, don't stay super-close over the years (although they will drop everything to help you if you need it) really struck a cord with me. It's like that with my college friends.
The Jordans anchor the group as a couple that fall for each other in college & eventually marry. Their connection is palpable and really serves as the heart of the story. This book is a heartfelt, funny, charming read that explores love, tragedy, death, and friendship in all their ups and downs. It may me laugh, smile, and cry. It's a perfect summer read. It's also a nice incentive to encourage you to send old friends a text or give them a call. Life's short but friendships can bring so much to it. Even if time gets in the way, it's never too late to reconnect.
I read parts of this and listened to Rowley himself do a fab job narrating it. If you loved The Guncle, you will love this one as well.
The story is lovely, too. A group of college friends meet up over the years for a "living funeral," so that they can learn what they mean to the others while they're still alive. This is prompted by the death of one of their group just as they're done school. The references to 80s/90s references & the notion that people, even when so close at college, don't stay super-close over the years (although they will drop everything to help you if you need it) really struck a cord with me. It's like that with my college friends.
The Jordans anchor the group as a couple that fall for each other in college & eventually marry. Their connection is palpable and really serves as the heart of the story. This book is a heartfelt, funny, charming read that explores love, tragedy, death, and friendship in all their ups and downs. It may me laugh, smile, and cry. It's a perfect summer read. It's also a nice incentive to encourage you to send old friends a text or give them a call. Life's short but friendships can bring so much to it. Even if time gets in the way, it's never too late to reconnect.
I read parts of this and listened to Rowley himself do a fab job narrating it. If you loved The Guncle, you will love this one as well.